Humidor for stereotype mats



June 22 1926. l,589;710

G. G. M CAFFERTY HUMIDOR FOR STEREOTYPE MATS F11 April 1, 1924 j aF2255. fizz/anion Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES GEORGE G MCCAFFERTY, 0F EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDOR FOB STEBEOTYPE MATS.

Application filed April 1,

This invention relates to a humidor for stereotype mats.

In the process of constructing stereotype plates, it is customary toemploy paper mats for the purpose of making an impression of the form oftype which it is desired to reproduce upon said plates and prior to themaking of said impression it is necessary to first soften said mats to acertain extent in order that they may be rendered sufficiently plasticto have a clear impression of the type formed thereon.

The object of the invention is to provide a humidor in which steretoypemats may be placed and exposed for a certain period to a vapor in orderthat they may be softened for the purpose mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means within the humidorfor supporting and spacing the stereotype mats in order that the entiresurface of said mats may be exposed equally to the vapor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a means for causinga circulation of the vapor within the humidor and between the mats. V I

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts setforth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a humidor embodying myinvention, a portion of the casing of said humidor being broken away andillustrated in section, thereby exposing a portion of the interior ofthe device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows on said line.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a portion of one ofthe mat supportin and separating frames.

iike numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

In the drawings, 5 represents a casing, preferably constructed of sheetmetal and being provided with a chamber 6 upon the interior thereof. Thecasing 5 is provided at the top thereof with covers 7 which are securedthereto in any suitable manner. A quantity of water 8 is located in thechamber 6, the level of said water being maintained at all timesapproximately as illustrated in the drawings.

Secured to the outer side of the casing 5 and extending entirelytherearound are 1924. Serial- No. 703,571.

channel-shaped members 9 and 10, preferably constructed of sheet metal,the member 9 having a passageway 11 provided therein, and the member 10having a passageway 12 provided therein. The members 9 and 10 areconnected through the medium of suitable pipes 13 and 14 respectivelywith a blower 15. The passageway 11 communicates with the chamber 6through the medium of a plurality of pipes 16, each of which has adischarge opening at its lower end which is located a short distanceabove the surface of the water 8 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The member 10is located adjacent to the top of the casing 5, and the passageway 12upon the interior thereof communicates with the upper portion of thechamber 6 through the medium of a plurality of orifices 17 which areformed in the wall of the casing 5.

Extending longitudinally of the casing upon the interior thereof and ata point a suitable distance above the level of the water 8 are angleirons 18, which form supports for removable frames 19, the latterconstituting supports for a plurality of stereotype mats 20. Each frame19 embodies therein a plurality of bars 21 which are fastened togetherin any suitable manner to form a base for said frame, together with aplurality of other bars 22 which are secured together in any suitablemanner to form a top for said frame, and said base 21 and top 22 arespaced apart by a plurality of angle irons 23, one of which is locatedat each corner of said frame. Secured to the base portion of the frame19 in any suitable manner is a sheet of foraminous material preferably awire screen 24, said screen constituting a means for supporting the mats20 within the frame 19 and permittin vapor to pass upwardly therethroughand etween said mats. Means are provided for spacing the mats 20 withinthe frame 19, said means comprising a plurality of horizontally disposedrods 25 which are supported upon the upper edges of the bars 22 andextend transversely across the frame 19. Other rods 26 are also providedfor the purpose of spacing the mats 20, said rods 26 being verticallydisposed, the upper ends thereof being secured in any suitable manner tothe transverse rods 25, and the lower ends of said rods 26 being securedto the wire screen 24 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Means are provided for heating the water 8 and thereby creating a vaporwithin the chamber 6, said means comprising a plurality of electriclight bulbs 27, the latter being mounted in any suitable manner in .alamp 7 socket frame 28which extends longitudina-h ly within the chamber6 a suitable distance above the surface of the water The electric lightbulbs 27 when in position within their respective sockets in the frame-28 pro ject downwardly into the water 8 a short distance asillustrated. Electric wires '29 tor-ma portion of the electric circuitin which the electric light bulbs are located extend upwardiy from theframe 28 through a vertical tube 30 and into and "ou-gh a transveextending tube to a switch which employed as desired in opening orclosing the electric circuit to the electric light bulbs 27. The casingis provided with an inlet pipe for the water 8 and also an overflow pipe34 for said water.

The general operation oi": the humidor is as tollow s llhe stereotypemats 20, which are well known to those skilled in the printing art, areplaced within the frames 19 between the spacing rods 25 and 26 asillustrated 'a F '3, the lower edges or said mats rest'in upon the wirescreen 24. The frames 19 res; upon the angle irons within the chamber 6a suitable distance above the level. of the water li hen it is desiredto create a vapo-r within the chamber 6, the electric light bulbs 27 arelighted through the medium of the switch and as the water 8 becomesheated, a slight vapor is formed within the chamber 6 The vapor thusformed is not an exceedingly moist vapor, nor is it desir able to employan exceedingly moist vapor or too hot a vapor in softening the mats.

llV'l-ien it is desired to cause a. circulation of the vapor within thechamber 6 and between the mats 520 the blower is set in operation andsaid blower will draw the vapor from the npper portion of the chamber 6through the orifices 1? into the passageway 12, from thence through thepipe 1% into the blower from which it blown through the pipe 13,passageway 11 and pipes 16, being returned to the interior of thechamber 6 at points just above the level of the we 8. This circulationof the vapor within the chamber 8 and between the mats decreases thetime required for softening the mats and causes the vapor to be evenlydistributed thereover, making it possible to obtain a perfect impressionof the type upon the entire surface of the mat.

I claim:

'1. A humidor for stereotype mats -comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, said casing havingpassageways formed therein communicating with said chamber, means tocreate a vapor in said chamber and means to cause a circulation of saidvapor through said chamber and passageways.

2. A. humidor for stereotype :Inats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with .a chamber in the interior thereof, said casing avingpassageways formed therein communicating with said chamber, Waterlocated within said chamber, means to vaporize said water and means tocause a circula- 'ion of vapor throng-h said chamber and passageways.

A hum-idor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a. casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, said ca ing havingpassage-ways formed therein communicating with said chamber, wateriocated within said chamber, means to support stereotype mats withinsaid chamber above said water, means to vaporize said water and means tocause a circulation of vapor within said chamber and passageways and'between said hi ts.

4. A humidor for stereotype mats coin prising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior the-reel", said casing havingpassageways formed therein communicating with said chamber, waiterlocated within said chamber, means to support stereotype mats withinsaid chamber above said water, means to space said mats upon saidsupport, means to vaporize said water, and means to cause a circulationof vapor within said chamber and passageways and between said mats.

5. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, said casing havingpassageways formed therein communicating with said chamber, waterlocated within said chamber, means to support stereotype mats withinsaid chamber above said water, means to space said'inat-s upon saidsupport, an electric circuit including a plurality of electric lightbulbs located within said chamber and means to cause a eirculation ofvapor within said chamber and pas sageways and between said mats.

6. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, said casing havingpassageways formed therein communicating with said chamber, water 10rated within said chamber, a frame embodying therein a sheet offoraminous material for supporting stereotype mats Within said chamberabove said water, means to space said mat-s upon said frame, means tovaporize said water and means to cause a circulation of vapor withinsaid chamber and passageways and between said mats.

'Z. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, said casing havingpassageways formed therein extending therearound and communicating withsaid chamber, water located within said chamber, means to supportstereotype mats within said chamber above said water, means to vaporizesaid water and means to draw vapor from said chamber at points adjacentto the top thereof and return said vapor to said chamber at pointsadjacent to the surface of said water.

8. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, said casing havingpassageways formed therein communicating with said chamber, waterlocated Within said chamber, a frame embodying therein a sheet offoraminous material for supporting stereotype mats within said chamberabove said water, means to space said mats upon said frame, an electriccircuit including a plurality of electric light bulbs located withinsaid chamberand means communicating with said passageways to draw vaporfrom said chamber at points adjacent to the top thereof and return saidvapor to said chamber at points adjacent to the surface of said water.

9. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, means to create a vaporin said chamber, and means to cause a circulation of said vapor withinsaid chamber.

10. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, means to create a vaporin said chamber, and means to draw vapor from said chamber adjacent tothe top thereof and return said vapor to said chamber adjacent to thebottom thereof.

11. A humidor for stereotype mats comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a chamber in the interior thereof, water located withinsaid chamber, means to vaporize said Water, and means to draw vapor fromsaid chamber at points adjacent to the top thereof and return said vaporto said chamber at points adjacent to the surface of said water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE G. MCCAFFERTY

